Post by know ID yuh on Jan 5, 2011 19:36:51 GMT -8

To really get Das Racist, you have to listen to more than just a couple songs. They put out two mix tapes last year, totaling nearly three hours worth of music. Since I like math, I'll just estimate their output to be something like this:

10% is "holy shit" brilliant10% is amazing20% is great40% is pretty good20% is annoying

Then they take these five categories, throw them in a blender, and spit them out on literally every song. So if you are looking for the annoying, you'll find it, if you are looking for the brilliant, you'll find it. If you want to experience all of their "amazing" and "holy shit brilliance," you should just listen to their album. The "holy shit" brilliance is hidden throughout their mix tapes. You might not even catch it the first listen. Outside of Kanye (shoot me), it's the best hip-hop I've heard in years.

Just think, if they wanted to trim out that extra two hours, and make one album, it might be the greatest album of the year. They chose not to do that, instead saying, "this is who we are, take the good with the bad," Much respect.

Post by Pea on Jan 5, 2011 20:08:33 GMT -8

What exactly does it mean when an artist releases a mix tape? I know what they are in the traditional sense, but I don't understand what differentiates a "mix tape" from an album or EP. There were a couple write-ups in Pitchfork recently about M.I.A. and jj releasing some and upon listening to the one put out by jj it just sounded like an album of sampled music. What distinguishes it as a mix tape?

Sorry it's off-topic, but you mentioned it and it reminded me that I wanted to ask.

Post by Drew on Jan 5, 2011 20:22:34 GMT -8

My impression was always that a mixtape is self-released (no label) and can serve different porpoises for different artists. For these guys it's probably just a way to get known fast. For someone like MIA it's maybe like a b-sides or alternative project. jj's albums are pretty conceptual, so I imagine everything else they did they might consider putting out on a mixtape instead.

I have a feeling someone will come here and tell me I'm totally wrong about this.

Post by Friendly Destroyer on Jan 5, 2011 20:31:26 GMT -8

I had unfortunately judged Das Racists by their Das Racists cover. Still don't feel comfortable saying "I like Das Racists" or "Das Racists are good", thanks for the tip. "Racists are bad", that feels better.

Post by Horned Gramma on Jan 6, 2011 8:04:56 GMT -8

I think one of the ideas behind a mixtape is that generally you're releasing it for free, which allows you to side-step a lot of the increasingly complicated legal shit involved with sampling. It's also much cheaper and faster.

Post by ebay on Jan 7, 2011 18:54:03 GMT -8

I dig these guys. They were introduced to me through a friend with whom I, along with some other students from my college, book a small outdoor music fest in April on campus. Last year we had Portugal. The Man, The Dodos, Japandroids, and Typhoon. He had brought up the thought of getting Das Racist, so I checked them out and liked what I heard. Now they'll be playing in Salem on April 23rd.

Rainbow in the Dark is probably my favorite, but I also enjoy Who's That? Broooown!, You Oughta Know, Shorty Said, Ek Shakeesh, haha jk, all tan everything, and Fake Patois.

Post by Hancho on Jan 7, 2011 20:58:39 GMT -8

Youtube'd a couple of songs and I just could not get into them. I'd take LMFAO, Asher Roth and even shwayze over them any day of the week. Hell, Far East Movement or even Hollywood Undead would have been better!

Post by Drew on Jan 7, 2011 21:11:06 GMT -8

Youtube'd a couple of songs and I just could not get into them. I'd take LMFAO, Asher Roth and even shwayze over them any day of the week. Hell, Far East Movement or even Hollywood Undead would have been better!